To get the best out of your visit to Turkey’s capital here’s our Istanbul city guide.
Travel guide to Istanbul
Istanbul straddles the
huge Bosporus and rises from the mile-wide waterway on all sides. To get
the best out of your visit to Turkey’s capital here’s our Istanbul city
guide.
The cliché for Istanbul is that it is where east meets
west, a clash and mix of modern European and ancient Asian. More
accurately Istanbul holds a fascinating, opulent and wondrous eastern
heritage but is firmly a developed, prosperous and cosmopolitan European
city.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, also known as the Blue Mosque, was
built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I.
Under the main dome of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul.
The interiors of Aye Sofia. Also known as the Hagia Sophia, it was first
built as an Eastern Orthodox Cathedral in AD 562. It served as a
Catholic Church Cathedral from 1204 to 1261 before it was reverted to an
Eastern Orthodox Cathedral. In 1493, it became an Imperial Mosque and
was declared a museum in 1931.
Another view of the awe-inspiring interiors of Aya Sofia, which was
first established as the Greek Patriarchal cathedral of the ancient city
of Constantinople. It is considered the cornerstone of Byzantine
architecture.
A view of the exterior of Aya Sofia.
The Basilica Cistern lies underground about 500 feet away from Aya
Sofia. It was built in the 6th century during the reign of the Byzantine
Emperor Justinian. Constructed as a basilica, the structure became a
cistern under the Ottoman Empire and provided a water filtration for the
city of Constantinople.
First view of the Blue Mosque.
The facade of Istanbul's famous Blue Mosque.
Eminönü, the heart of the walled city of Constantinople, seen from the Galata Bridge.
The cone-topped Galata Tower dominates the skyline of old Istanbul.
Stop at Çiçek Pasajı (Flower Passage) and refresh yourself with a pint of beer or Turkish tea.
Istanbul is an epicurean's delight. Turkish Dolmas (vegetables stuffed
with meat) are usually served as a meze -- a short appetizing meal
combined with cheeses and salads.
In most eateries Turkish women make fresh Gözleme, the Turkish version
of the Indian aloo paratha (fresh bread stuffed with potatoes and
herbs).
Tea is an important part of Turkish culture. Turkish tea, called çay, is a favoured substitute for both alcohol and coffee.
Turkish ice-cream is famous, not merely for its taste but for the
curious selling tactics adopted by the very conversational traders.
At the Grand Bazaar, where Salman Khan was seen shooting for Ek Tha Tiger.
Istiklal Caddeci or Istiklal Avenue is the busiest part of the town where local people go shopping.
The interiors of the Blue Mosque are finished with Iznik tiles, with
impeccable ornate design influenced by the Tulip era. The tiles are
predominantly blue, and so the Blue Mosque is named.
The silhouette of the Blue Mosque against the skyline of Istanbul.
Small fishing villages in the Bosphorus.
A street-side candy-seller.
The streets of Sultanahmet, in the old city of Istanbul.
The Gate of Salutation at the Topkapi Palace, which was the official
residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years. The palace is now a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Imperial Harem at the Topkapi Palace.
A tram in Istanbul. Local commutes are inexpensive as you can either walk or avail of the tram services.
Top five things to do in Istanbul
Sultanahmet
If
you’ve got time, spend an entire day taking in the sights of the
ancient Sultanahmet district. It has the 1,500-year-old Ayasofya, the
500-year-old Blue Mosque and the Sultan’s old home, Topkapi Palace.
People of one persuasion or another have been living here for 3,000
years or more, and being this close to so much ancient civilisation and
history is surely only possible in a handful of other cities.
Beyoglu bars
Towards
the top of Istiklal Caddesi on the left, 500m before Taksim Square, in
Beyoglu, is a splendid fish market; all the better for it marks the
entrance to one of the city’s most lively bar streets. Head through the
market and you will emerge onto a narrow street crammed with busy bars,
all with outside tables. There is a relaxing European feel to the
drinking.
The Islands for a fish dinner
Take
a ferry from the Karokoy stop to the Prince’s Islands. Jump off at
Heybeliada. Although there is not much to see there is plenty to eat.
All the quayside restaurants offer excellent seafood fare. Not only do
you get to find yourself a tasty, fresh seafood dinner but the view to
Istanbul from the Islands and from the ferry begin to give you an idea
how enormous the city is.
Turkish baths
It
seems obvious but a good idea in Turkey is to have a Turkish bath. The
highest profile, stunning, and expensive, is the Cagaloglu Hamman in
Sultanamhet. You certainly forfeit style for substance though; the
massages here are usually short to keep up with the high demand, and the
price high. There are plenty of other hammans offering better value if
in slightly less resplendent surroundings.
A toe in Asia and a beautiful sunset
If
you do make it as far as the very end of Europe it seems a bit silly
not to dip a toe into Asia, even if only for an hour. Get the ferry from
Karokoy to Kadikov on the Asian side. The area around the ferry stop is
pretty lively with lots of food stalls selling cheap kebabs or fresh
seafood munchies. Time your return journey for sunset and you will be
witness to a memorable cruise across the Bosporus as the sun dips behind
the Ayasofya and the Blue Mosque.
Where to stay in Istanbul
If
it is budget accommodation you are after, there is only one choice
here; Sultanahmet. There is an abundance of cheap hostel accommodation,
but be warned that it is very much 'cram them in, take their money' in
some, but you cannot argue with the value. And you are on the doorstep
of literally some of the oldest sights in Christendom, and even some
sights that were around before Christendom was even a twinkle in the eye
of whichever almighty you happen to believe in. If you have more cash,
getting a hotel in the Taksim area puts you at the centre of modern
Istanbul with its major bars and shops.
Where to eat in Istanbul
Anywhere.
This is one of the joys of the place, although perhaps not if you are a
vegetarian. Vendor after vendor after vendor does a great kebab. Not
your horrible slime ball British kebabs but real ones, which actually
taste nice and do not bring instant grief to your arteries. Short of
that avoid the tourist deals in Sultanahmet and head back to the
Istiklal Caddesi. Peel off onto any side street and you will find decent
priced tasty restaurants.
How to get around Istanbul
The
Golden Horn area, which covers Sultanahmet, Beyoglu and Beskitas, can
all be done on foot. However, there is an excellent tram service that
can whisk you pretty much anywhere you need to get to or from in a hurry
or to save your legs. You can simply pay for each journey, which is
fairly cheap, or buy an Akbil, like a travel pass, from Eminönü,
Sirkeci, Aksaray, and Taksim tram stops. You pay an initial nominal
deposit for the card then money onto it and swipe it every journey.
Saves fumbling around for change and it can be used for most public
transport, including ferries. The ferries are a great way to get around
the city, especially hopping from the Europe to Asia, so the card is
very handy.
The best time to visit Istanbul
It
is one of those places, like London or Paris, which is simply always
going to be full of tourists. July is the hottest month and although it
does not get up to sweltering Greek temperatures it can be
uncomfortable. Middle to late September means you miss the hottest of
the weather and the real sting of summer holiday crowds.
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